Description

The project will rehabilitate the existing drawbridge on US 64 over the Alligator River in Tyrrell/Dare County.

Latest News and Updates

Monday, April 15: The Alligator River bridge is now open to traffic. NCDOT crews have removed the bridge closure signs on U.S. 64. This morning, they will remove the detour signage on N.C. 94 and U.S. 264.

The bridge reopened at 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 – about 12 hours later than originally scheduled. The delay was caused by the discovery that one of the key parts used to keep the bridge closed and support the weight of the vehicles broke during repairs. NCDOT worked quickly to secure a replacement part, make the repairs and reopen the bridge..

Project Overview and Purpose

This project will specifically:

Swing the bridge open

Jack up the bridge and support it on both ends

Pull the pivot out of the center

Replace the pivot

Replace all balance wheels

Replace some of the gears and shafts

The Alligator River bridge was built in 1960 and is 14,928 feet in length. The bridge is a drawbridge and opens an average of 500 times each month. Due to the tremendous amount of openings each year, the mechanical components of the bridge are worn. The purpose of this project is to perform rehabilitation work on the components in the hopes of preventing future closures to the bridge.

Project Videos

This video shows the parts that crews replaced on the Alligator River Bridge and explains why the repairs were needed.

Project Schedule

Lane Closures

March 18 - April 1

Bridge Closed to all Traffic

April 2 – April 14

The lane closures before and after the bridge closure are to allow crews to perform prep work and to make final adjustments.

During the closure, motorists traveling from Columbia should use the following signed detour:

N.C. 94 South to U.S. 264 East to U.S. 64

Motorists traveling from Dare County should use the following signed detour:

U.S. 264 West to N.C. 94 North to U.S. 64

Detour Map

Project Facts

The contract does have a clause which allows the contractor to receive an incentive of $300 per hour or any portion thereof for each hour the bridge reopened to traffic before 12:01 p.m. on April 14, 2013. A disincentive of $300 per hour, shall be assessed the contractor for each hour or any portion thereof beyond the completion date the work is not completed.

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.